(European Commission) The Economic Sentiment Indicator was recorded at 107.5 in the EU in March, a significant 5.3 points decline.
In the euro area, the economic sentiment index was at 108.5, a drop of 5.4 points.
The industrial confidence edged lower by 3.4 points to touch a one-year low as managers’ production expectations fell.
The retail trade confidence fell by 4.9 points, while the construction confidence was largely unchanged. The services were the only sector to post slight gains in consumer confidence.
The EU business managers’ Employment Expectations Indicator also eased after a record high in February to 114.9, down by 1.1 points. In the euro area, the index fell by 0.9 points to 115.5.
Among the major EU economies, ESI fell in France the highest by 7.1%, followed by Spain and Germany, with declines of 6.5% and 4.3%, respectively. The confidence rose slightly in the Netherlands at 0.5%.
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